Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled $420 million for a program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, which helps food banks and other local groups provide food to their communities.

USAID bought more than 1 million metric tons of food from U.S. farmers in the 2023 fiscal year. Now many of those farmers may be out of major contracts.

The results of the Ohio farm stress survey are also helping counselors and mental health workers learn how to provide better care.

The Ohio Farm Bureau, Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University created a survey of stressors and coping mechanisms among farmers and other agriculture workers.

Lake Erie has been threatened by harmful algae blooms. But Ohio farmers are increasingly backing H2Ohio, a program to protect the lake and waterways around the state.

Ohio’s farmers are aging, but aspiring farmers sometimes struggle to break into the field, unable to afford the steep cost of land and equipment. A new program could help.

The Biden administration hopes changes to farming can help achieve its climate agenda. The Department of Agriculture has an additional goal: improving service to Black and other underserved farmers.

The Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance aims to plug gaps in rural mental health resources. A recently launched survey is the first step to understanding how rural residents cope with stress.

Rural students are less likely than their urban and suburban counterparts to attend college. A FAFSA rule change could widen the gap.

Gas prices continue to soar to record highs. Diesel climbed to an average of $5.52 per gallon on Friday in Ohio, according to AAA.